Your friends called you last night and thought it would be a great time to head to a local bar. They knew that you liked to drink, and you were excited to get a night out to relax.
You also believed that they would have a designated driver to help get you from point A to point B, but it turned out that they didn’t. While you’d planned to leave your vehicle in the parking lot overnight and catch a ride home with the DD, you found you had no option but to try to make it home safely due to the lack of planning. You knew it wasn’t the best idea, but you had no other options that you were aware of.
Driving drunk can result in heavy fines and penalties if you get caught
A DWI in Minnesota is serious, whether you were stopped by the police for driving recklessly or you caused an accident. Your actions put others at risk, and you put yourself in danger, too. Despite that, it is important that your rights are protected and that you are treated fairly.
When the police officer stops you, they will usually seek a Breathalyzer test. This test identifies the amount of alcohol that is in your blood stream at the time of the test. The officer may also ask you to perform field sobriety tests, so that they can see if you can complete them as a sober person would.
Keep in mind that these tests can be wrong. They can be given incorrectly, too. Even if they come back in a way that implies that you’re driving over the limit, it’s smart to reach out to your attorney to work on a defense.
Did you know you can be charged with a felony DWI in some cases?
Did you know that you could be charged with a felony DWI? You can be charged with a felony if you have a previous felony conviction for a DWI-related homicide or injury, have previously had a felony DWI or have been arrested for a DWI for the fourth time within the last 10 years.
Fourth offenses are particularly damaging, leading to the loss of your license for four years and prison sentences of up to seven years. Fines can be as high as $14,000.
A DWI can negatively affect you in many ways. Be sure that you defend yourself to protect your reputation.